I want to be a fighter

[Jab902]

Don't we all, huh? Well i have training in boxing and the only MMA training i have is sparring with ameteur fighters. I am only 15 years old i have years to go. But i need to get over getting hit. Also Im not taht great once it goes to the ground. My strenghths are my standup and takedowns.

please i would like your opinions, storys and any other input u have about this.

I wish for this not to be another thread thats ignored

[bigred389]

Originally Posted by Jab902

Don't we all, huh? Well i have training in boxing and the only MMA training i have is sparring with ameteur fighters. I am only 15 years old i have years to go. But i need to get over getting hit. Also Im not taht great once it goes to the ground. My strenghths are my standup and takedowns.

please i would like your opinions, storys and any other input u have about this.

I wish for this not to be another thread thats ignored

It helps if you do some boxing sparring and realize that even getting jabbed in the nose then hooked in the side of the head by even a Golden Gloves champ doesn't hurt THAT much.

Seriously...only way to get over a fear of getting hit is to start taking some shots...know what you can afford to take and what's going to seriously cost you in pain tolerance points.

From there, you should also learn HOW to take a hit...eg take it on the forehead vice the nose/chin.

If you think your groundwork sucks, take some BJJ classes near you.

[AshleyGH]

if you keep your gloves up then you're less likely to get a good hit..maybe your forehead. Wear headgear for a while because when you get hit it definately cushions the blow. I know that i had a problem keeping my gloves where they needed to be and I got a good punch to the mouth by my sparring partner and i learned automatically ..lol If you get your boxing basics down and good footwork, then work on kicking. BJJ classes would be awesome to improve your ground. First I started boxing, then I moved to kick boxing, and now I'm grappling. I just kept building on what I already knew. If someone beats the crap out of you or submits you or something ask them how they did it, and what you can do to prevent it next time. That's how I learn tons of things.

[rev.jc]

3 suggestions,

#1 spar with well padded gloves 18 or 20 OZ it will allow you to take away your fear of getting hit, I am a silver level certified usa boxing trainer we use this all the time! also use training headgear, thicker more protective until you build your skill

#2 watch who you spar with, one of the biggest killers of young fightrers is sharks in the gym 3/4 of all injuries occur while in the gym sparring not in fights
if you get overmatched while training you will get "Gun Shy" a good trainer will not allow this to happen, this is not to say you can't spar with good experienced fighters, just be honest with them! In fact an experienced fighter will know how to take it easy better than a so-so guy. And many great fighters will love the chance to work mainly on defense.

#3 realize you are going to get hit, it is not a question of if but of when try some sparring drills, get a partner and do sets of 8 1 - 2 combos hitting just your opponents gloves in front of his face, then let him do the same to you! it will build your agression and give you the muscle memory to stay in there!

If you are 15 and want to work on your ground game why are you not wrestling in school? It is free will get you in 1rst grade shape and will give you the basics, and advance knowledge for MMA, and even BJJ guys would have to agree with that, also if you need to find a boxing gym look for a PAL (police athletic gym in your area they are free to!

[Jab902]

i did wrestle in school and im going to next year. I have friends that train at PAL but i go to a gym i have to pay for, i might wanna join PAL though

[rev.jc]

yes PAL rocks, free training, and free trips, and belive it or not the quality of training is usally better as well, great choice.

[jigmastermatt]

Hmm..This PAL sounds nice. Is there an official site or something I would like to learn more. What excatly is it? Do you need prior boxing exp.?

[rev.jc]

no PAL is the national assoc. of police athletic leagues, do a search I belive it is www.pal.org , but I am not sure look up police athletic league on Yahoo or ask,
there is an icon for finding a PAL near you, they are all over, PAL is what the YMCA was before it went commercial, I boxed for PAL for about 10 years, and it never cost me a cent!

[danfaggella]

Wow, sounds like a great place to start figthing.

Jab, you've got to understand where you want to go with figthing (professional NHB?...) and understand what its going ot take to get there. Talk to different people in the buisiness, talk to fighters, talk to people on this forum and get some good perspective on all different things. Feel this out, this doesnt have to be your fate but you certainly have time to see if this is something you want to persue. Good luck, and do your homework (get information for yourself!).

[darrianation]

Some good advice here.

All I can add is not to give up. My formula is if you are afraid to get hit in the face then spar, a lot, with a boxer. I think in time you begin to loose this fear (maybe not totally but to the point it won't interfere with your training of fighting). Or you become so numb you can't feel it anymore...and you drool, and can't make complete sentences, hehe...

As for your ground game...again practice with a wrestler or in a BJJ or MMA gym. Get the experience necessary. No magic there, just work.

[Warrior189]

Originally Posted by Jab902

Don't we all, huh? Well i have training in boxing and the only MMA training i have is sparring with ameteur fighters. I am only 15 years old i have years to go. But i need to get over getting hit. Also Im not taht great once it goes to the ground. My strenghths are my standup and takedowns.

please i would like your opinions, storys and any other input u have about this.

I wish for this not to be another thread thats ignored

I'm also working to be a pro fighter. Just curious what weight class your going for and what height are you?

[darkrelevance]

for you pro fighters out there, how do you manage to balance training and work? i mean pro fights dont exactly pay a whole lot, so whats the lifestyle like?

[Warrior189]

If I were a pro fighter I would get a cheap place so I can save enough money to get a better place in the future and I would learn how to play the stock market to get extra money.